Package, container, and blank therefor



1944- E. M. BROGDEN PACKAGE, CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Fil ed Nov.12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ernesf E) Ogden ATTORNEY PACKAGE,CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR I Erne f M. rogden BY h I 12 ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944.

file

E. M. BROGDEN PACKAGE, CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1958a Sheets-Shet :5

INVENTOR Er 5% M. rogden I ATTORNEY Patent ed Nov. 7, 1944 PACKAGE,CONTAINER, AND BLANK THEREFOR Ernest M. Brogden, Orlando,

President and Directors of the pany (sometimes known as hattan Company),trustee,

Fla.. assignor to Manhattan Com- Bankof the Man- New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 12, 1938, Serial No.240,169

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in packages, containers andblanks therefor, in which the container is adapted for constructionprincipally from fibrous sheet material such as paperboard and the like.

The invention is especially applicable to arrangements for packing anumber of articles of merchandise in a single package suitable forpurchase as a unit by the consumer, and is effective in promoting thesimultaneous sale of a group of articles, such as filled bottles orcans. With merchandise of this type the packaging cost must be held to avery low figure, as the market is highly competitive; and thisrequirement involves not only the use of inexpensive materials but alsothe reduction to a minimum of the total amount of such materialsemployed in the package. A feature of the invention is the provision ofa container and package structure which conforms to these requirements,while providing adequate strength and security of packing. Anotherfeature is the arrangement and construction of the container parts tofacilitate rapid and economical cutting of the blank and assembling,packing and handling of the container.

A purpose of the invention is to produce a packaging construction of theindicated type which may be arranged to expose a substantial part of themerchandise for display or other purposes, the location and extent ofsuch exposure being capable of substantial variation to conform todifferent conditions, various types of merchandise and a wide range ofadvertising designs. I

The invention likewise includes the provision of a package provided withan improved handle ar-- rangement enabling it to be stacked convenientlyand without waste space in series and tiers of packages, the handlebeing capable of being collapsed or telescoped into non-projectingposition.

The container according to this invention is of the single tube type,inwhich four sections are connected in series to form a generallyrectangular prismatic tube with open sides. A separate handle isprovided on the tube or body, and extends in general parallel to theopen sides, that is, circumferentially of the tube, so that the handlein use tends to constrict the tube against the merchandise therein. Suchmerchandise is confined in snugly packed position b band means extendingacross the sides of the tube, desirably in the form of a continuous bandencircling the package and extending across said sides and the endsections of the tube. By approtransverse support priately designing andarranging the tube or tubular body of the container and the confining ofthese container elements while retaining their efi'ectivemerchandise-confining functions. This arrangement likewise facilitatesextensive expo-j sure of the merchandise where desired. The invention isparticularly advantageous for packaging columnar articles that arereduced in diameter toward one vend, such as bottles and cap-sealedcans. Such articles present special problems due to their contour andthe danger of chipping and breaking the bottles. A purpose of theinvention is to provide a container of the type indicated which isparticularly adapted to hold one or more pairs of bottles, cap-sealedcans or the like in a snugly packed group while utilizing the reducedend portions of the articles to simplify the container structure anddecrease the amount of material required, as well as to provide a firmand attractive arrangement. This purpose is accomplished in general bylocating the top section of the container body between the necks of thebottles in position to provide in a zone located entirely below thebottle mouths, thereby shortening the end sections of the tube andproviding an attractive exposure of the bottle necks without,sacrificing the firm retention of the bottles in the package.

In this embodiment an additional feature is the provision of a handleconnected at its ends to the tubular body at or adjacent to the endsections and aligned with the space between the necks of the bottles,arranged for collapse of the handle between such necks.

Certain specific features have beenv provided for properly locating andmaintaining the confining or retaining band in desired position, andfacilitating its application and removal. These include band stops orlocking means arranged on registering portions of the container body andthe band. A further desirable specific feature is the provision ofa'tapered or wedging structure on the body, serving to increase tensionon the band as it is slid downwardly'over the packed container, therebyfacilitating application and removal of the band and compensating forvariations in band length or merchandise proportions.

It is sometimes considered desirable to protect merchandise such asbottled beer against light; and the invention can be embodied in alight-excluding container where this is desirable.

Other objects, advantages and desirable features of the invention willappear from the following description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of adesirable practical form of package embodying the invention, comprisinga container packed with six bottles;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the tubular body of thecontainer shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a similar package showing amodified band arrangement and a narrowed body construction;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of container in whichthe band engages the margin of the bottom section and closed aperturesfor the intermediate bottle necks are provided;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank for the tubular body of the containershown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of package showinganother type of band and body end construction;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower part of one end of thepackage shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified packageshowing a different type of band connection;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line I0-l0 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another form of package showing adifierent type of band stop and a container suitable for two largebottles;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section on line 52-[2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of still another modified form of packagearranged "o exclude light from the bottles;

Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section on line i l-48 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the tubular body portion of thecontainer shown in Fig. 13 with the light-excluding flaps in raisedposition;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another modification of the containerstructure including a band positioned within the tubular body memher;and

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse section on line 11-41 of Fig. 16.

While certain features of the invention are applicable to the packagingof various types of merchandise, the invention is particularlyadvantageous when employed for packing columnar articles, that is,articles more or less elongated and having substantial symmetry about alongitudinal axis. Such articles include particularly cans (the flat endtype as well as the cap-sealed type with projecting necks) and bottles,the various specific embodiments illustrated and de scribed herein beingapplied to the packaging of the latter. The package is applicable tomerchandise arranged to form a prismatic group. preferably generallyrectangular in contour. which may be made up of columnar articlescompactly arranged side by side in parallel alignment. In the preferredform such articles are arranged in one or more pairs, forming twoparallel series of articles constituting the group.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 the container consists of anormally upright tubular body member 30 of sheet material and aretaining band or tube 3| encircling said'body member horizontally andlikewise formed of the same or some different sheet material. Said bodymember comprises generally a top section 32, end sections 33 and bottomsection 34 connected in series. Bottom section 34 is arranged insupporting engagement with the bottom face of the merchandise group, inthis case the bottoms of bottles B; end sections 33 are in confiningengagement with the ends of said group, in this instance the side facesof the bodies 35 of the end bottles B; and top section 32 is inconfining engagement with the upper side of said group, in this instancethe upper portions or necks 36 of bottles B.

While contiguous body sections may be connected along sharp bendsnormally approximating right angles, they may advantageously becontoured in the connecting zones to conform to the subadjacent surfacesof the merchandise group. Where the container is employed with bottleshaving the usual sloping necks 36, the top section 32 and end sections33 may be joined by a connecting portion 31 curved to conform to themerchandise and preferably merging with the generally flat central areasof said sections 32 and 33. While connecting portion 31 may in certaininstances be considered part of the end section 33, it is preferablytaken as part of top section 32 in the embodiments illustrated herein,since-its functions are substantially those of said top section. Eachconnecting portion 31 may be provided with transverse bending linessuitable for facilitating the smooth and ready bending of said portionto the contour of the merchandise.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the top section 32 is provided. at eachmargin with a series of apertures 38 (recesses in this instance, 1. e.,apertures which are laterally open) registering with the necks 36 ofbottles B and having margins formed and arranged to so engage the necksas to prevent transverse movement thereof towards each other, as well asupward movement of any bottle in the direction of its axis. Preferablysuch engagement is provided at both the inner and side faces of saidnecks to prevent movement thereof in any direction except substantiallyoutward parallel to end sections 33. For this purpose recesses 38 arearranged to form marginal tongues 39 each projecting between a pair ofbottles substantially to a line joining the central axes of the bottles.The tongues may terminate at this point leaving recesses 38 open alongthe lateral margins of the top section 32 for free lateral introductionand removal of the bottle necks 36, as in the embodiment shown inFig. 1. However, where the material is sufficiently strong, stiff andflexible, tongues 39 may project outwardly beyond such center and themargins of recesses 38 forming the sides of such tongues may be curvedfor a short distance beyond such center about the bottle necks 36 toprovide yieldable retention of such necks as indicated in the endrecesesses 38b of Fig. 5, the bottles being nevertheless readilyremovable by an outward pull which will flex slightly the projectinglateral margins of tongues 39 at the outer ends of the tongues.

The portions of the container body interposed between the bottle necksmay be proportioned to hold said necks at a sufficient distance fromeach other so that the upper portions of adjacent bottles will be spacedapart and the bottles willbe in contact only at or near their bottomswhere they are held firmly by the end body sections and the retainingband. In this arrangement the bottles are appropriately spacedtransversely by the central portion of the top section 32 between therows of apertures 38 and are longitudinally spaced at each side of thepackage by tongues 39. This is highly desirable as tending to minimizebreakage.

The end recesses 38 extend into the connecting portions 31 of the topsection 32 and have margins in said portions which should be suitablycontoured to maintain adequate engagement with the bottle necks 36 whenconnecting portions 31 are curved downwardly to merge with end sections33.

The retaining band 3| may vary considerably in height or width, contourand location, depending upon the characteristics of the merchandise andthe preference of the manufacturer or packer regarding packageappearance and merchandise exposure. In the form shown the band extendsvertically across a substantial portion of the bottle bodies 35,engaging bottles B adjacent the top and bottom portions of said bodies.This type of band is especially useful with bottles of the hour glasstype such as those illustrated in Fig. 2, since it engages the bottlebodies above and below the constricted portion thereof and serves tocover the sides, which ordinarily do not carry labels and are notespecially sightly. Band 3| extends across the outer faces of endsections 33 and is sufliciently tight to hold said end sections in firmengagement with the bottles B while simultaneously pressing bottles atopposite sides of the container inwardly into rigid relationship to eachother and the necks 36 into firm engagement with the margins of recesses33 in top section 32.

Band 3! may consist of an integral or one-piece strip of material withsubstantially parallel top and bottom edges and with ends connected toeach other, as by overlapping said ends and securing them together byglue or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 the band 3| mayadvantageously be constructed of relatively stiff fibrous material, suchas paperboard, and is applied by sliding the band downwardly over thecontainer and merchandise. Means for arresting the downward movement ofthe band when constructed and applied in this manner is preferablyprovided so that the band is accurately located in desired position andcannot be forced below bottom section 34. In the form shown in saidfigures, end sections 33 taper inwardly from their junctions with thebottom section 34, the angle of taper being selected relative to thecircumferential length of the band 3| so that the band will readilyslide downwardly over the upper portions of end sections 33 and bottlebodies 35, but will be gradually pressed outwardly by the side margins40 of end sections 33, I increasing the tension on the band and itsconstricting effect'on the package.

The width of end sections 33 adjacent their junctions with bottomsection 34 is sufficient to prevent forcing the lower edge of band 3|downwardly to the level of bottom section 34, the stiffness of thematerial and the reinforcement thereof provided by the angularintersections between end sections 33 and bottom section 34 providing astiffening effect on the marginal portions of end sections 33 adjacentthe bottom section sufficient to retain the lower ends of margins 40 inposition projecting outwardly from the adjacent faces of the bottlebodies 35 to serve as stops preventing further progress of the band 3|.

To produce this construction it is necessary that the margins 40 of endsections 33 and the connecting margins of bottom section 34 shall extendtoward the sides of the packages a substantial distance beyond the linesof contact between end sections 33 and the bottle bodies 35, which lineswill be opposite the vertical centers or axes of the bottles when thebodies 35 are approximately cylindrical. In this embodiment thereforethe width of the lowermost portion of each end section 33 issubstantially greater than the distance between the axes of the bottlesengaged by the section, while the width of the upper portion of saidsection is substantially less, and may advantageously be approximatelythe distance between said axes. With this arrangement bottom section 34preferably has a width throughout substantially equal to the width ofthe lower ends of the end sections 33.

The container is provided with a suitable handle extending in acircumferential direction transversely to the axis of the tubularbodymember 30 and generally parallel to the open sides of said member,so that the tension exerted by the handle in use will tend to draw endsections 33 and bottom section 34 inwardly against the merchandise. Inthe preferred form illustrated the handle 4| is adapted to be made fromsheet material of the type indicated and is connected at its endspreferably to the upper portions of the end sections 33.

The handle 4| is arranged for collapsing into a position in which itwill not interfere with the stacking of the packages or their insertionin a narrow space. Forthis purpose the handle is arranged so that it maybe forced inwardly toward the container body. Where the package is ofthe type illustrated in which the bottle necks or other articleprojections extend above the top section 32 the handle 4| is arranged inalignment with the space between parallel series of bottle necks and isconstructed so that itmay be forced downwardly between such necks into aposition in which it will not project beyond the outer faces of thepackage.

While this may be accomplishedby providing a suiliciently flexiblehandle, in the preferred form at least one end of the handle is slidablymounted on the container body in such manner that by sliding the handleend into the body said handle may be depressed between the bottle necksor other projections, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or mayeven be forced inwardly until it lies fiat along the outer surface ofthe body, the latter arrangement being particularly appropriate forpackages in which the merchandise does not project through the topsection.

This result may be obtained by providing -a suitable tongue and slotconnection between one or both of the handle ends and the containerbody. In the form illustrated each side section 33 is provided adjacentits upper end with a transverse slot 42 through which an end or tongueportion 43 of handle 4| extends and is held in suitable manner againstretraction as by barbs 44 and laterally bent web 44a engaging the upperwall of slot 42, the handle end being provided with a longitudinal slit45 to permit transverse contraction of said end for insertion in slot42.

- While a special form of connecting structure is illustrated, itscharacteristics are not set forth in detail nor claimed herein, sincethey are dis closed in detail and. claimed in the copending applicationof Ernest M. Brogden, Ser. No. 240,167, filed November 12, 1938, nowPatent No. 2,289,824.

The body member 30 may be cut from a single blank of sheet material, andthe latter may desirably be positioned so that the grain or principaldirection of the fibers in said material runs transversely across themember generally parallel to the lines defining or separating thesections. The connected ends of the blank may be located at variouspoints of the tube, the arrangement disclosed providing a lap joint atthe intersection between an end section 33 and the bottom section 34,thus giving a certain amount of reinforcement along said line. The blankillustrated in said figure is provided with bending lines 46 between endsections 33 and top section 32, lines 46 in the connecting portions 31between the side and top sections being parallel to line 41, andpreferably being located approximately at the top of the bodies 35 ofbottles B.

It will be understood, however, that bending lines 46 are for thepurpose of providing a smooth curvature to the connecting portions 31and may be dispensed with where the contour of said portions and theflexibility of the material permit the material to curve smoothlybetween the top and end sections. Bending line ll is provided at theintersection of one end section 33 and the bottom section 34, theopposite end of the latter being defined by bending line 48 at theintersection with flap 49, which is suitable for attachment as by gluingto the lower portion of the end section at the opposite end of theblank, whereby to form the body member as a permanently continuous tube.

As already indicated, the width of band 3| may be varied and it may belocated at various distances from the bottom of the package. For certaintypes of merchandise it may be positioned near the bottom, while forothers, and particularly where side labels are to be exposed, it mayextend across the upper portions of the bottle bodies in position toexpose labels normally located on said bodies. While packages may beprovided with a single band in either location, the form illustrated inFig. 4 shows for convenience a band in each position, with the lowerband 3Ia registered and held in place by notches 5! in the side marginsof end sections 33, and the upper band 3") held against downwardmovement by shoulders 52 on said margins. The width, stiifness andtension of the bands preferably is such that when the upper band 31b isremoved the bottles B can readily be extracted from the package bylateral deflection of a bottle neck to clear the top section 32,followed by upward withdrawal of the bottle. The bottles may be replacedin a similar manner.

Another method of arresting the downward movement of band 3| isillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the bottom section 34a isextended at the sides to a position beneath band 3|, serving as a stopand support therefor. This arrangement provides a. complete coverage ofthe bottom of the package, which is advantageous for certain types ofmerchandise and conditions of use While recesses 38 in top section 32may be proportioned to permit easy and rapid lateral insertion of thebottle necks 36, a construction which, incidentally, facilitates machinepacking, it may be desirable under certain conditions to provide morepositive retention of the bottle necks or other projecting portions ofarticles in the package. For this purpose said recesses may be eitherpartially or wholly closed, since said necks can readily be insertedupwardly into closed apertures before the base of the bottle is swunginwardly onto bottom section 33. A container of this type is illustratedin Fig. 5, designed for packaging six bottles and including completelyclosed asenoae apertures 38a for the intermediate or central bottlenecks. The marginal portion or flap 53 extending beyond apertures 38a ateach side is integral with the tongues 39 and may be deflecteddownwardly into contact with the bottle necks 3B. The end recesses 38bhave lateral margins curved around the bottle necks 36 beyond thecenter, as already described, said margins terminating at the ends offlaps 53, which may be inclined or curved relative to the straight outeredges of said flaps.

This form of construction has been found to be especially advantageousin providing strong retention of the upper portions of the bottles whenit is desired to use a relatively loose, weak or narrow band 3|, sinceit largely eliminates any strain on the band due to outward pressure onthe bottle necks. Moreover, it will be understood that the package isnot limited to three bottles or similar articles at each side; and whenthree or more articles are thus packaged, bottles intermediate the endsof the container may have a greater tendency toward lateral deflectionthan the end bottles. This tendency is substantially eliminated by theaperture arrangement indicated, in which the apertures engaging suchintermediate articles are closed at least to an extent suflicientsubstantially to prevent outward defiec tion of the necks or projectionsduring use, while the end apertures may or may not be arranged toproduce this result, depending upon conditions and the characteristicsof the bottles or other articles in the package.

A blank for the tubular body member 30a illustrated. in Fig. 5 is shownin Fig. 6, and in general is formed and arranged similarly to the blankshown in Fig. 3. If desired, bending lines 54 may be provided at thejunctions of flaps 53 with the central portion of top section 32, lines54 preferably being located along the outer margins of aperture 38a, orslightly inward from said margins, and in the form illustrated in Fig. 5they extend to the junctions between the margins of recesses 38b and theends of flaps 53.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8, other modifications of theband structure and support are illustrated. In'this embodiment the band31a is relatively wide, preferably of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 5,but is provided with horizontal openings or cut-away portions 55arranged to provide adequate exposure and display of side portions ofthe merchandise, while upper and lower webs 5B of the band provide thenecessary confining engagement with the merchandise. Obviously thecontour and proportions of opening s 55, and the number of openingsemployed, may be varied within wide limits according to the type ofmerchandise packaged and the portion thereof which is to be exposed. Theillustrated arrangement, in which the openings 55 are positioned toexpose the principal portion of labels or the like on the bottles B,includes openings which may extend at their ends substantially to thelateral margins of end sections 33 to provide adequate exposure of thelabels on the comer bottles.

Band 31c may be provided at its ends with suitable means engageable bythe fingers of the user to facilitate upward withdrawal of the band fromthe package. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, particularly thelatter, this is accomplished by providing upwardly curved or recessedlower marginal portions 51 of band Bic at each end of the packagearranged to provide suflicient clearance V band cause of the firmcontact between above the surface on which the package is placed topermit the fingers to press inwardly on the subjacent portions of theend sections 33 and obtain a firm grip on the lower edges of the band.

These figures also illustrate another form of band stop comprisingshoulders 58 on the lateral margins of end sections 33, positioned forengagement by the lower edge of the band when the latter has beenslipped downwardly into desired position. A positive stop arrangementsuch as the one just described is of particular value when the bandis'designed to register with or expose predetermined portions of thepackaged articles.

In some cases, the retaining band may desirably be connected to endsections 33 of the container body in appropriate manner to maintain saidband and end sections in the desired relationship. The connectingstructure, when employed, preferably is readily separable forapplication and removal of the band, and may be of a type which can beengaged during band application and which will serve as a stop arrestingthe downward movement of the band. A structure of this type isillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and includes a locking tongue 59 excisedfrom the portion of band 3lc overlying an end section 33 of the bodymember, said tongue sliding into a transverse slot 60 in said endmember, the engagement of the lower slot wall with the base of tongue 59serving to arrest the downward movement of the band 3m in the desiredposition. This arrangement permits the location of the band around thepackage with the lower margin of the band flush with the lower face ofbottom section 34, and the use of a relatively narrow bottom sectionwhose width need not be greater than the transverse distance between theaxes of the outermost bottles or other articles engaging each endsection 33.

Another type ofband stop and support is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12.In thi arrangement the tubular body member 30b is arranged withoverlapping end portions '6! located intermediate the ends of a sidesection 33 and constituting a part of said section, the portion 6|extending upwardly from the bottom section 34 being on the outside andhaving an upper edge forming a stop and support for the band 3Id.

While this arrangement is illustrated at only one side of the containerbody, a construction which permits the formation of the body member 301)from a single strip of sheet material, it will be apparent that thearrangement is not necessarily limited to location at one side only.

Figs. 11 and 12 also illustrate the application of the invention to atwo-bottle package which is particularly suitable for handlingrelatively large bottles, whose weight and size make them generallyawkward to carry. In this arrangement the top section 32 may becompletely curved to merge smoothly with the side sections 33, the topsection consisting in eiTect solely of the connecting portions 31. Wherethe bottles B have substantially cylindrical bodies 35, Or at. least areof equal diameter adjacent the upper and lower portions of said bodies,the bottles can exceptional firmness even when 31d encircling-the upperportions of said bodies is relatively narrow, since the bottle necks 38are firmly held against inward movement by the margins of the curved topsection 32, and are restrained against outward movement bethe bottlebases which prevents such movement without rupture of band 3 I d. Agenerally similar principle applies to the various types of bandedpackages containing multiples of two bottles or other similar articles,as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

The invention is likewise applicable to containers and packagesconstructed to exclude light from the contents, a characteristicsometimes considered desirable in connection with bottled beer. Anembodiment of the invention which provides protection of this type tobeer bottles and the like is illustrated in Figs. 13-15. In thisarrangement, in which the bottles illustrated are of the so-calledsteinie type, all of the apertures 380 in the top section 32 are closed,the lateral margins of said section being connected to flaps 64,preferably integral therewith, which extend downwardly around themerchandise and at least to the adjacent margins of the end sections 33and the band 3le.

In the preferred embodiment shown, each flap 64 consists of a.sidesection 65 extending downwardly over the sides of the merchandiseand beneath the side portion of band 3 le which serves to hold said flapfirmly in position against the subjacent bottles B or the like. Thecorner spaces between the ends of the side sections 65 of the flaps 64and the end sections 33 of the body member are similarly spanned bycorner flaps 66, which preferably are integral with side sections 65 atthe ends thereof and are arranged to extend beneath end sections 33 andthe adjacent portions of band 3Ie when th package is in closed position.For convenience in shaping and arranging flaps 34 the side section 65 ofeach flap may be connected to a lateral margin of the top section 32 ofthe body member along a bending line 61, and may be provided with aplurality of bending lines 68 parallel to line 61 and arranged tofacilitate the flexing of said side section to follow the contour of thebottles. Corner flaps 65 may be connected to side sections 65 alongbending lines 69, and may be provided with crease lines 10 suitablyarranged to facilitions 31 of the top section 22, and the adjacent partsof the band 3le. 'With a construction of the type illustrated it hasbeen found that lines 10 will be effective if arranged parallel tobending lines 69, the material of which these parts are constructedbeing sufficiently flexible to permit reasonably close conformity to thegeneral bottle contour when arranged in the manner described, andproviding a particularly neat and attractive package when assembled andpacked.

This construction is also designed to facilitate rapid packing, sincethe bottles may easily be inserted while flaps B4 are in alignment withtop section 32 of the body member (see the rear flap in Fig. 15), theflaps 64 being then readily curved downwardly and the. corner flaps 66inserted simultaneously beneath end sections 33 of the body (see frontflap B4 in Fig. 15). By sliding band 3|e downwardly over the package theflaps 64 are forced inwardly into final position without furthermanipulation.

In this arrangement there are certain advantages in employing a bottomsection 34a of the type already described (see Figs. 5 and 6), providedwith margins registering with the lower margins of the band 3le'toprovide a stop and support therefor, completing the enclosure of all themerchandise except the upper portions of the necks of the bottles. Suchupper portions are of such slight extent that their exposure cannot haveany appreciable effect upon the contents; whereas the arrangementpermits the purchaser to note from the caps the nature of the contents.The apertures 380 may be designed to fit the bottle necks 36a close tothe upper ends thereof to reduce the amount of exposure of said necks.This structure is particularly applicable to bottles of the steinie typeprovided with bulges or the like adjacent the upper ends of the neckssuitable for firm engagement by the margins of apertures 38a (Fig. 14)

Band (He is provided with recessed marginal portions 51 at both theupper and lower edges of the band, an arrangement that not onlyfacilitates the application of the band with either edge downward, butalso permits the use of a deeper band without covering the connectionsbetween the ends of handle 4| and end sections 33.

While it is generally preferable and in some instances particularlyadvantageous to locate the retaining band outside of end sections 33,the invention is not limited to such a construction. An arrangement inwhich the band is located inside of the body member is illustrated inFigs. 16 and 17. While the band in this position may be held in place toa substantial extent by frictional engagement with the merchandise andthe body member, means preferably is provided for holding the band inproper position, and should include means for preventing substantialvertical shifting of the band as well as material lateral movementrelative to the body member. In the arrangement illustrated, the band3|), which in general is of the relatively deep type similar to bands 3|and 3|c, has lower edge portions 1| resting on the ends of the bottomsection 34, and an upper edge portion 12 at each end locatedsubstantially in aligmnent with slot 62 so that when the tongue portion43 of the handle is inserted inwardly through said slot the lower end ofthe tongue portion will be located within and against the inner face ofthe band, the upper edge portion of which bears against the outer faceof the tongue portion at slot 42 and is held against upward movementthereby. The lower edge portion ll of the band 3|;f at each end of thecontainer is provided with shoulders 13 engaging the lateral margins ofthe bottom section 34 and preventing lateral movement of the band.

The various arrangements illustrated and described, together with othervariations falling within the scope of the invention, are suitable forconstruction from relatively inexpensive fibrous sheet material. It hasbeen found that paperboard or boxboard posssesses the requisitecombination of tensile strength. stiffness, bending and foldingcapability and low cost which render them suitable for use in containersused for packaging merchandise such as bottles, cans and similararticles of the sizes ordinarily sold in retail stores; but variousother types of fibrous sheet material, such as those known aspasteboard, cardboard and the like, and even certain types ofparticularly stiff and strong paper, may be employed for certain typesof merchandise and conditions of use. The handle 4!, the body member 30and the band 3| may be made of the same or different materials, or ofdifierent weights or qualities thereof. Specifically, since in mostinstances the strain on band 3| is exclusively ten sile, said band maybe made of lighter material than the body member 30 and in particularneed not have the same stiffness for many types of package. Forinstance, band it may be made of kraft paper or other flexible materialhaving substantial tensile strength.

The container is especially adapted to be cut economically from sheetmaterial, and the blanks may be rapidly and readily assembled, the bodymember 3|! being assembled by folding the blank into tubular form andattaching the ends, while the blank for band 3| is assembled in the samerapid and efficient manner, an operation easily performed at the packingplant; though said body member and band are likewise adapted to beassembled, folded flat by bending at opposite points, and packed forshipment in knocked-down form.

The container is likewise designed for rapid and efficient packing. Inthe preferred forms, the articles may be simultaneously inserted in thebody member from opposite sides in the manner already indicated, andband 3|, when made of relatively stiff material, may be slid downwardlyover the body member and contents to complete the package, withoutrequiring the manipulation of any flaps, looks or other devices whichtend to delay the closure of ordinary containers. The handle 4| may beapplied rapidly by inserting its ends in the slots in the body member,either before or after packing, and is adapted to be inserted in thebody member. at the box factory and folded flat with said member forshipment. To unload the packed container, it is only necessary to movethe band upwardly out of the way and remove the bottles or otherarticles laterally. a combined outward tilting of the bottle base anddownward movement of the bottle as a whole being employed where the neckaperture is completely closed. Where the container is in the form of abottle carrier, therefore, the consumer can readily re-load it with theempty bottles for convenient return to the store and refund of thebottle deposit which is customary in the distribution of bottled softdrinks.

It will be noted that in the preferred forms illustrated the tongue ends43 of handle 4| extend into a space between the adjacent faces ofarticles at opposite sides of the package, facilitating the downwardmovement of said ends and collapse of the handle 4| toward or againstthe top section 32.

While the invention has certain special advantages for the packaging ofbottles and has been illustrated and described in connection therewith,it will be apparent that it is applicable likewise to various othertypes of merchandise. The features set forth herein are largelyapplicable to the packaging of various types of columnar articles suchas cans, the cap-sealed type being packaged substantially the same asbottles, while the ordinary fiat-end cans require simply that topsection 32 be suitably contoured to engage and restrain the upper endsof the cans, the apertures 38 naturally being unnecessary for this use.Moreover, while reference is made in the specification and claims toarticles of merchandise, it will be understood that in its broadestsignificance, this term is intended to describe not simply unitaryarticles such as bottles or cans, but also composite articles made up ofa plurality of individual pieces of merchandise of generally similarcontour piled one on the other for packaging, providing a columnar unitto which certain fea tures of this invention are applicable. Forinstance, containers embodying the invention may be employed forpackaging some kinds of fruit arranged in the manner indicated.

For convenience of description reference has been made to top, bottom,end and side sections or faces; and while these terms have specificsignificance in connection with packages and containers which inherentlymust be maintained in a certain vertical position, it will be understoodthat for the broader phases of the invention these terms are employedprimarily for convenience and clearness of description.

The bending lines described herein may be of various types. Theypreferably include a construction facilitating the accurate bending ofthe material at the desired point, and such a line may consist of acrease in which the material is defiected to form a trough on one sideand a ridge on the opposite side extending along the desired line; ascore, in which the material is cut partially through along said line,usually on the outer or convex side of the bend; or perforated lines inwhich closely spaced shortcuts or perforations extending throughthematerial are provided along the line.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, and various modifications thereof have been indicated, itwill be understood that this disclosure is intended to be illustrativerather than restrictive, and that the invention includes otherarrangements and constructions embodying the underlying principlesthereof and falling within the scope of the claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. A display and carrying package for consumer units of merchandisecomprising a prismatic merchandise group of columnar articles compactlyarranged with their axes substantially parallel and a sheet materialcontainer snugly conforming to and confining the group comprising a bodyformed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiffiiexiblesheet material and having an integral top section and a bottom sectionextending transversely of the longitudinal axes of said columnararticles and in such restraining engagement with opposite faces of themerchandise group as to prevent substantial movement of any suchcolumnar article parallel to its axis, together with endsectionsconnecting the ends of the top and bottom sections and in restrainingengagement with opposite ends of the merchandise group, the body havingopen opposite sides; and band means extending across portions of saidsides in confining engagement with the merchandise at said sides andengaging said end sections, the band means being spaced at said sidesfrom the top section and movable to permit removal of articles withoutinjuring the container. 2. A package as set forth in claim 1 in whichthe merchandise comprises articles having portions projecting inparallel series beyond the top of the container.

3. A display and carrying package for consumer units of merchandisecomprising a rectangular prismatic merchandise group and a containerconfining the group including a tubular body of stiff flexible sheetmaterial having opposed top and bottom sections, opposed end sectionsand open sides, a continuous band of relatively stiff sheet materialextending across the end sections and open sides of the package inconfining engagement with the merchandise, said band being axiallyslidable over the merchandise group and end sections; and means forrestraining downward movement of the band over said sides and endsections, comprising lateral marginal portions of said end sectionsdiverging downwardly to portions projecting laterally from themerchandise and into wedging engagement with the band.

4. A display and carrying package for consumer units comprising acontainer having a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from onepiece of stiif flexible sheet material and including opposed top andbottom sections and opposed end sections; a plurality of columnararticles arranged compactly in parallel rows with their bottoms restingon the bottom section and the end articles of the rows engaged by theend sections, each article being reduced in diameter toward an end toform a neck, said top section beingprovided with parallel rows ofapertures adapted and arranged to receive said necks and permit them toproject beyond said top section while preventingsubstantial movement ofsaid articles axially away from said bottom section; and a band,extending across the sides and the end sections or the container body inconfining engagement with said articles, thereby holding said necks infirm edgewise engagement with said top section.

5. A package as set forth in claim 4 in which the top section includes aportion substantially parallel to the bottom section and in transversebracing engagement with the article necks.

6. A package as set forth in claim 4 in which the top section includesportions extending between and spacing adjacent article necks, andmaintaining the upper portions of adjacent articles out of contact witheach other by engagement with said necks.

7. A display and carrying container for consumer units of merchandiseincluding articles each reduced in diameter toward an end to form aneck, which comprises a body formed as a permanently continuous tubefrom one piece of stiff flexible sheet material and having opposed topand bottom sections, opposed end sections and open sides;merchandise-confining band means engaging the body end sections andextending across the open sides; and a handle connected at its ends tothe body at circumferentially spaced points; the top section of the bodybeing provided along opposite margins with apertures arranged to receivethe necks of said articles.

8. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which some of said aperturesare laterally open for lateral insertion of necks of the articles.

9. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which some of the aperturesare laterally open for lateral insertion of the necks of the articles,and have margins which include flexible neck-retaining projectionsyieldable for insertion and removal of said necks.

10. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which the apertures arearranged in a rectilinear row along each'side margin of the top sectionof the body, and each row includes end apertures laterally open to formneck-receiving recesses, and an intermediate aperture with marginsarranged to restrain an article neck in said aperture against outwardlateral movement.

11. A display and carrying package comprising a container having a bodyformed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiif flexiblesheet material, such tubular body including opposed top and bottomsections, the top section being provided with neck-receiving aperturesand opposed upright sections both slotted for connection of a handlethereto, all said sections being formed integrally from a sheetotrelatively stiif flexible fibrous material, a plurality of columnararticles each reduced in diameter toward an end to form a tapering neck,said articles resting on the bottom section and extending above said topsection with their necks held within said apertures in the top section,said articles being firmly confined by said top and bottom' sections.

12. A display and carrying'container for consumer units of merchandisecomprising a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one pieceof stiff flexible sheet material and having opposed top and bottomsections, opposed end sections and open sides; a continuous merchandise-confining band extending across the end sections and the opensides of the body; and a handle connected at its ends to the body atcircumferentially spaced points; the upper margin of said band beingspaced from the lateral fining position extending across the open sidesand end sections of the body; the lateral mar gins of at least one ofsaid end sections diverging downwardly in wedging engagement with theband to limit downward movement thereof.

ERNEST M. BROGDEN.

